TrendingCommercialSouth FloridaAHome Depot on tap
Retailer pays $20M for 5-acre commercial plaza in Pembroke ParkDeal brings buyer’s assemblage to 7 acres
Listen to this article00:001xKey PointsAI Generated.✨This summary is reviewed by TRD Staff
Home Depot bought a commercial plaza in Pembroke Park for $20 million
adding to its holdings in the Broward County town
The Atlanta-based big box retailer purchased the property at 3101-3129 West Hallandale Beach Boulevard from an entity led by Joseph and Elena Edelman
according to records and real estate database Vizzda
the plaza consists of 64,800 square feet of retail and office space in six one-story buildings
The five-lot property is on a 4.7-acre site
The Edelmans’ affiliate had paid $5.3 million for the property in 2014
Home Depot also owns the 10,500-square-foot bank building at 3131 West Hallandale Beach Boulevard
having paid $4.9 million for it in December
The 2.3-acre property is adjacent to the plaza Home Depot just purchased
Home Depot didn’t immediately return a request for comment on whether it plans to build a new store on the sites
SIGN UPLed by CEO Edward Decker, Home Depot’s nearest store to the plaza it just purchased is at
In 2021, Home Depot paid $26 million for the former Sam’s Club building at 7233 Seacrest Boulevard in Lake Worth Beach
The home improvement retailer opened a store there
Home Depot also opened a Jupiter store at 1694 West Indiantown Road, after purchasing the former Sports Authority site in 2018 for $8.1 million
Retailers are increasingly investing in properties
In March, Publix paid $25 million for its store and a Starbucks outparcel at 2501-2519 East Sunrise Boulevard near the Galleria Mall in Fort Lauderdale. That came after Publix paid $40 million for a retail plaza anchored by one of its stores
as well as an office building and two outparcels at 2700
12864 and 13000 Biscayne Boulevard in North Miami
Ryan Mackey
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“She is living true to her name … she is fighting,” said Irma Riviera
who authorities say was in a relationship with 34-year-old Stephen McKenzie
who reportedly struggled with mental health
opened fire on the family in a murder-suicide
“She was going to leave him this week,” Riviera said
“She was exhausted mentally and emotionally from his bipolar.”
McKenzie shot and killed his twin 2-year-old sons
They said eleven-year-old Zion was also gunned down trying to protect his mother
Investigators confirmed that McKenzie died after turning the gun on himself
Video shows Phiinyx in recovery — walking again
with strength that doctors and family members call nothing short of incredible
Riviera says Phiinyx is the reason she can keep going
so right now it’s a little hard to breathe without her here,” she said
“She’s such a strong little girl and I am so grateful she is here with us,” Riviera added
Phiinyx remains in recovery as loved ones rally around her
calling her the light in the darkest of moments
Her family created a GoFundMe account to help with her medical bills. Click here if you would like to contribute
Copyright 2025 by WPLG Local10.com - All rights reserved
Reporter Rosh Lowe has been covering news for nearly two decades in South Florida
Ryan Mackey is a Digital Journalist at WPLG
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(CBS12) — Feeding South Florida is seeking the public's help in catching men who stole a $30,000 mobile kitchen from the nonprofit's Pembroke Park warehouse
the men stole two mobile teaching kitchens on Sunday
See also: 20-year-old accused of having sex with boy she met at funeral
The missing kitchens were formerly used to bring hands-on cooking demonstrations to families
Feeding South Florida says the program utilizes nutrition educators to inspire healthier eating habits
Find more ways to stay up to date with your latest local news. Sign up for our newsletter to get the day's top headlines delivered right to your inbox. Subscribe to our YouTube channel for the biggest stories and can't miss video
Feeding South Florida
the region’s largest hunger-relief organization
is asking for the public’s assistance in identifying two male suspects who agency officials say stole two mobile teaching kitchens — worth $30,000 — from its warehouse in Pembroke Park on Sunday
"This is an unfortunate situation," Feeding South Florida President and CEO Paco Vélez told WLRN
"All we ask is for the return of the mobile teaching kitchens so that we can continue putting food on the tables of South Florida families who need it most," Vélez said
Each mobile kitchen is worth approximately $15,000 and is a centerpiece of the nonprofit’s “Kitchen à la Cart” program
which is designed to bring hands-on cooking demonstrations to communities experiencing food insecurity
The carts are equipped with tools that allow educators to teach everything from basic culinary skills to meal planning for dietary restrictions
The theft comes at a time when 2.1 million South Floridians are facing food insecurity
Feeding South Florida is urging anyone with information to come forward to help recover the stolen mobile kitchen equipment
Pembroke Park police are investigating the theft report
Anyone with information about the theft can call Broward County Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS
PEMBROKE PARK
At a recent town commission workshop, the former mayor and current commissioner declared his intent to lead Pembroke Park again — but not before unleashing a blistering critique of his fellow commissioners and their qualifications
“I would like to put my name back in for the mayor position and lead this town out into a positive direction for the next two years,” Jacobs announced
But rather than simply stating his candidacy
Jacobs spent over 20 minutes chastising his colleagues for what he called a lack of leadership
vision and basic understanding of town operations
Jacobs grilled Vice Mayor Erik Morrissette on a critical deadline related to town finances
“Do you know when the audit’s due?” Jacobs asked repeatedly
When Morrissette admitted he didn’t know the date
“You’ve been in the position for two years
it’s probably one of the most critical dates we have in Pembroke Park.”
Commissioner Bill Hodgkins also came under fire
Jacobs took issue with Hodgkins’ statement about wanting to move the town forward if he became mayor
Jacobs responded by pointing out that Hodgkins had already been serving on the commission for four years
implying that he should have a better understanding of the town’s operations by now
“You’ve actually been here in town for four years,” and sarcastically added
Jacobs painted a picture of a commission he believes is dangerously unqualified
“This town has suffered for lack of leadership from this dais
You should have a grasp and understanding of everything that’s going on here in the town at this point.”
He accused his colleagues of poor hiring decisions
and ignoring grant deadlines that could cost the town “a great deal of money” if not met by 2026
very poor leadership decisions here in the town,” he said
“You don’t have the leadership skill set yet.”
Jacobs even suggested some commissioners could be putting the town in legal jeopardy by directing staff
“You’re putting (the town) in a position of liability for the lack of knowledge on things you’re doing
It’s illegal to be directing town staff,” he claimed
The town attorney later clarified for the record that no violations of the Sunshine Law or other statutes had occurred
“I’m not aware of any indication that any member of this commission has engaged in any activity that would violate the Sunshine Law.”
Jacobs’ critics point to his own record as mayor
which was marred by controversy and legal disputes
and Jacobs being charged with filing a false police report
Former Town Attorney Melissa Anderson has filed a lawsuit against the town of Pembroke Park
alleging that Jacobs subjected her to a hostile and discriminatory work environment during her tenure
Anderson claims that Jacobs made derogatory remarks about her gender and sexual orientation, including using offensive language and sending her a homophobic TikTok video
She also alleges that the town failed to take appropriate action in response to her complaints and ultimately terminated her employment in December 2022
Anderson is seeking damages in excess of $50,000
Former Pembroke Park Human Resources Director Babette Friedman has filed a whistleblower lawsuit against the town and Jacobs
she alleges that Jacobs created a hostile work environment
including an incident where he called her a “Nazi” during a public food drive in May
who is Jewish and a descendant of Holocaust survivors
claims that Jacobs’ behavior made her working conditions intolerable
an independent investigation commissioned by the town found that Jacobs engaged in a pattern of bullying
intimidation and retaliation against staff members
citing Jacobs’ behavior as a contributing factor
Jacobs turned the tables on his critics by suing the town
that his First Amendment rights were violated
Jacobs insists he’s the only one who understands the stakes
“We have projects that need to be completed in a timely manner
You need to have an understanding of our lift station problems
crumbling infrastructure — including asbestos pipes and a sinkhole that continues to fall into an abyss,” he said
I have the background and have the experience to get us out of this and put us on the right trajectory.”
His final pitch was simple: “I want the toilets to flush
and I don’t want to see anybody going underwater when these storms come through.”
The Pembroke Park Town Commission is scheduled to hold its next regular commission meeting at 7 p.m
Janine Stanwood
– A man accused of fatally shooting his partner and her three sons – two of whom were also his – has died
Leer en español
which occurred at the family’s apartment building along the 3100 block of West Hallandale Beach Boulevard
was killed after investigators say McKenzie opened fire on his family
Detectives believe McKenzie then shot his own two sons
who were both from a previous relationship
Phiinix and Xion’s father, Kelvin Solomon, told Local 10 News that his son died trying to protect his siblings
“He died protecting his mother and protecting his sister,” he said
Records show McKenzie had no known criminal history
Solomon told Local 10 News that McKenzie and Cruz were on the verge of a rocky separation
“Domestic violence is definitely a scary thing,” he said
A GoFundMe page was created to help with costs associated with Phiinix and Xion Solomon, and it can be found by clicking here
Additionally, a GoFundMe page was also created to help Phiinix Solomon with costs related to her recovery and future, and it can be found by clicking here
Amanda Batchelor is the Digital Executive Producer for Local10.com
Janine Stanwood joined Local 10 News in February 2004 as an assignment editor
Before moving to South Florida from her Washington home
Janine was the senior legislative correspondent for a United States senator on Capitol Hill
– It’s a double dose of unimaginable pain for Kelvin Solomon
Both of Solomon’s children, 11-year-old Xion and 8-year-old Phiinyx, were among six people shot Wednesday night in a family tragedy
Leer en español
“It’s hard to really put it into words,” he said
my daughter is fighting for her life right now.”
His daughter Phiinyx is the only victim who survived
but we’re just staying at her side right now and hoping for the best.”
was killed after investigators say her partner
opened fire on his family inside of the couple’s Pembroke Park apartment building
critically injuring Phiinyx and killing Xion
who were from a previous relationship between Solomon and Cruz
“My son was very brave in trying to protect and shield his mother and his siblings from this cowardly attack,” said Solomon
“She was definitely on her way out of the situation
so that could possibly be the deciding factor into what just happened.”
A domestic violence tragedy that has robbed the world of four young shining lights
very big heart and actually he just won the championship in the sports league right here,” said Solomon
A GoFundMe page was created to help with costs associated with Xion and Phiinyx Solomon, and it can be found by clicking here
Reporters’ notes after speaking to law enforcement sources
PART 1: Tragic story repeating itself in Broward is a sign that more needs to be done, domestic violence survivor says
PART 2: Domestic violence cases have risen significantly in Florida since COVID pandemic
Terrell Forney joined Local 10 News in October 2005 as a general assignment reporter
but a desire to escape the harsh winters of the north brought him to South Florida
and the city of Pembroke Park is helping families get in on the action one weekend early
On Saturday, the city is hosting an Easter event
featuring a helicopter dropping 5,000 Easter eggs containing prizes for kids to hunt
The event will take place at the Raymond P Oglesby Preserve
located at 3115 SW 52nd Ave in Pembroke Park
The egg drop will be split up by age group
Groups for kids ages 7-9 and then 10 and older will go hunting at around 11:30 a.m
“This is one of the most fun events we have every year,” Pembroke Park Mayor Ashira Mohammed said in a statement promoting the event
“I can’t wait to see the children’s faces light up with awe and joy as the Easter eggs drop from the helicopter.”
Acting Clerk Commissioner Musfika Kashem and Commissioner Geoffrey Jacobs
The Easter Bunny will also be on hand for pictures
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Pembroke Park town officials and Memorial Healthcare System are offering grief counseling on Monday following last week’s fatal mass shooting of a woman and her three young children in their apartment
No advanced registration is required to attend the grief counseling session
"The tragic events that occurred on Wednesday night have left so many in our community in pain
It's okay not to be okay,” said Pembroke Park Mayor Ashira Mohammed in a statement
Pembroke Park Deputy Chief Jason Ochoa urged local residents affected by the tragic shooting to “come and talk through your feelings with a professional.”
“You don't have to go through this alone," he said
READ MORE: Man kills woman and 3 of her children in a domestic shooting in Pembroke Park
Police said a 34-year-old man last Wednesday fatally shot the woman and her kids
before attempting to kill himself inside their apartment off W
The woman and three of her children were pronounced dead last Wednesday night inside their apartment in Pembroke Park, according to the Broward Sheriff’s Office
who reported that the 8-year-old Phiinyx Solomon survived and in critical condition
who said Cruz was the mother of all four children
and that McKenzie is the father of the 2-year-olds
Andrea Torres
Rosh Lowe
– The Pembroke Park Police Department released videos showing a group of vandals who damaged a parked police car on Sunday at a gas station
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“Three individuals got on top of the decoy vehicle and started jumping on the vehicle
and subsequently they shattered our windshield,” said Pembroke Park Police Deputy Chief Jason Ochoa
The vandals were part of a group of dozens of riders in motorcycles
and bikes that stopped at the RaceTrac gas station along Pembroke Road
“Complete lawlessness and complete disrespect for not only law enforcement but the community itself,” said Ochoa
not only the traffic laws that they violated within our community
and also we’re looking into the acts they committed of criminal mischief and the vandalism of our vehicle.”
Police said they were able to pull nine fingerprints from the decoy police car
Detectives asked anyone with information about this or other cases to call the police department at 954- 374-8639 or Broward County Crime Stoppers at 954-493-8477 to remain anonymous
Hannah Yechivi joined the Local 10 News team in May of 2024
The Emmy Award-winning journalist joined the Local 10 News team in 2013
She wrote for the Miami Herald for more than 9 years and won a Green Eyeshade Award
Chris Gothner
PEMBROKE PARK, Fla. – Pembroke Park commissioners held a special meeting Thursday where their outspoken colleague, Commissioner Geoffrey Jacobs
Jacobs, who has also served as the town’s mayor, was previously censured by fellow commissioners in 2023 after accusing him of “toxic and abusive” behavior
he’s accused of “threaten(ing) the life and home” of a fellow commissioner
Ron DeSantis will step in and remove Jacobs from the commission
“We’re going to be hopeful that the governor will look into this,” said Mayor Ashira Mohammed
“The option of recall is always on the table.”
Jacobs conveyed confidence that he would remain at his post
“I feel fine and I’m very confident,” he said
“I do not believe the governor is going to remove me from office.”
Thursday’s censure motion claimed that Jacobs told fellow Commissioner William Hodgkins that “he would be homeless and dead ‘soon.’”
The motion alleged that Jacobs made the remark before an Oct
It comes after Jacobs officially filed a lawsuit seeking $1 million in damages from Mayor Ashira Mohammed, another town official and the town itself on Friday over accusations against him alleging he called 911 saying the mayor was armed
The suit claims that Mohammed, former police Chief Ra Shana Dabney-Donovan and others knew that Jacobs never called the emergency line. The charges were later dropped
Jacobs says he’s been targeted by Mohammed and others because he’s “refused to condone the corruption and abuses of power by the Mayor and other Town officials in betrayal of the public trust.”
“I think that it will be very clear in a court of law that (town) officials and the police put pressure on the state to charge Commissioner Jacobs falsely.”
Jacobs has had numerous clashes with commissioners and other town officials during his time on the dais
calling for the resignation of a human resources director
He was also accused of sending a “homophobic” TikTok video to the then-town attorney, who is openly gay. She later sued the town
he said it was “absolutely” fair for taxpayers to foot the bill for any legal judgment he may win against the town
Copyright 2024 by WPLG Local10.com - All rights reserved
Christian De La Rosa joined Local 10 News in April 2017 after spending time as a reporter and anchor in Atlanta
Chris Gothner joined the Local 10 News team in 2022 as a Digital Journalist
David Dwork
– Police in Broward County are investigating a fatal shooting
It occurred early Wednesday evening along the 3100 block of W Hallandale Beach Boulevard
there were multiple gunshot victims stemming from a domestic incident
Sources told Local 10 News there were a total of six victims
arriving officers found a woman and three children deceased at the scene as a result of the shooting
the injured man was the shooter in the incident and he shot a woman
two toddlers and a 10-year-old before turning the gun on himself
David Dwork joined the WPLG Local 10 News team in August 2019
David has covered South Florida sports since 2007
– Broward firefighters spent hours battling a stubborn fire at a recycling plant in Pembroke Park early Tuesday morning
Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue responded to an alarm at a facility on Southwest 31st Avenue
authorities said they found smoke coming from the rear of the building and quickly called for reinforcements
crews encountered a deep-seated fire burning beneath a large pile of recycling debris
BSFR personnel said firefighters worked for four hours to fully extinguish the flames
using both hand tools and heavy machinery to clear away smoldering material
and the building did not suffer major structural damage
The cause of the fire is under investigation by the State Fire Marshal
HOLLYWOOD, Fla. – Two days after a horrific domestic shooting inside of a Pembroke Park apartment that left a mother and three children dead
there is only one child who survived: 8-year-old Phiinix Solomon
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“I have one in there fighting and one I have to bury,” Rita Hanson
the grandmother of Phiinix and 11-year-old Zion Solomon
She spoke at Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital in Hollywood Friday
where Phiinix remained in critical condition
“(Phiinix) had to go through a lot of trauma,” Hanson said
opened fire on his family inside of the couple’s apartment building at 3181 W
critically injuring Phiinix and killing Xion
Solomon said Xion died trying to protect his siblings
Records show he had no known criminal history
Solomon says McKenzie and Cruz were on the verge of a rocky separation
“Domestic violence is definitely a scary thing.”
McKenzie was still at the hospital as of Friday evening and technically in law enforcement custody
The Broward Sheriff’s Office is investigating the case on behalf of Pembroke Park police
PEMBROKE PARK, Fla. – Loved ones and neighbors have been left searching for answers following a fatal domestic shooting in Pembroke Park
Leer en español
Authorities still can’t explain why Stephen McKenzie opened fire
and also shooting her four young children before turning the gun on himself
who lives a few doors down from their unit off West Hallandale Beach Boulevard
doing laundry less than an hour before the shots rang out
Rainey said he heard several shots down the hall and ran to their unit
saw the blood and saw Cruz and McKenzie on the floor
What he didn’t realize was four children were also shot
and an 11-year-old were pronounced dead along with their mother
A GoFundMe page was created to help with costs associated with Xion and Phiinyx Solomon, and it can be found by clicking here
Andrew Perez is a South Florida native who joined the Local 10 News team in May 2014
– A Pembroke Park business owner is facing a felony charge after he displayed a revolver at another man who had been giving cats treats and water
according to court documents recently made public
According to the Pembroke Park Police Department
the incident happened Monday at a warehouse complex at 3121 SW 21st St.
owns a business registered to the address called “Estates Trader
An arrest report obtained by Local 10 News on Friday states that the victim was driving in the area when he saw “several cats” and stopped to give them treats and water
Police said Bak came out and confronted him about feeding the cats
but the victim ignored him and kept pouring water onto a plate
The report states that Bak “walked over and kicked the bowl
also kicking (the man’s) hand in the process.”
The man responded by calling Bak a “motherf---er,” which led Bak to pull up his shirt and show the victim a silver revolver with a brown handle in his waistband
who believed Bak was going to “shoot him,” went back to his car and called police
Authorities said Bak left the scene in his green Lexus
They said he declined to speak with officers
Officers arrested Bak on charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and battery
A Broward County judge ordered Bak to have no contact with the man
have no guns or ammunition and to have no contact with animals ― save for his own dog
Records show he would later be released from jail Wednesday on an $11,000 bond
citing controversial commissioner who is currently suing mayorCody Weddle
– There is new drama in Pembroke Park Town Hall as the town clerk has quit under duress
That commissioner is Geoffrey Jacobs
it was Jacobs who postponed discussion on an agenda item he introduced
provocatively titled “Ongoing blackmail and misconduct involving the mayor and town clerk.”
Mayor Ashira Mohammed addressed the title of the item
“Statements that are being put on the agenda are malicious and slanderous,” she said
This comes after Town Clerk Marlen Martell sent a resignation letter last week
“Unfortunately commissioner jacobs has made multiple unfounded accusations
He has placed formal complaints against me and asked the past four interim town managers to terminate me
I cannot continue to overlook his constant badgering
Jacobs directed Local 10 News to his attorney
has consistently butted heads with the current mayor
leading to an awkward scene in November in which the police chief of the town searched the mayor for a firearm in the commission room
That came after Jacobs called law enforcement to say he believed the mayor was armed and he was scared for his life
Jacobs faced criminal charges for the incident, which have since been dropped
He’s now requesting the town cover those legal fees
Commissioner William Hodgkins opposed covering those fees Wednesday night
“We shouldn’t have to pay somebody’s legal fees with it has nothing to do with the town,” said Hodgkins
“It didn’t have a thing to do with the town
It didn’t have a thing to do with the town
A vote on whether the town will cover his legal fees could happen at the next commission meeting
Jacobs is also now suing the mayor and former police chief for millions of dollars in a defamation suit
– Several police officers converged on a Pembroke Park gas station Thursday evening amid reports of a shooting in nearby West Park
At least one person was seen speaking to officers in an ambulance at the RaceTrac at 3996 Pembroke Road
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Pembroke Park police later told Local 10 News that the shooting happened in West Park
The gas station is located at the border of Pembroke Park
Additional details weren’t clear as of around 6 p.m
Editor’s note: Officials with the Pembroke Park Police Department said Thursday that the shooting occurred in West Park
Stay with Local 10 News and Local10.com for updates
– A 17-year-old unlicensed driver crashed into a concrete wall and caused damage to nearby mobile homes in Pembroke Park early Sunday morning
Pembroke Park police said officers responded to the scene at near the 5000 block of Hallandale Beach Boulevard around 6:15 a.m
traveling eastbound in the 5200 block of Hallandale Beach Boulevard
reported blacking out before the vehicle veered into westbound lanes and collided with the Dale Village community’s concrete wall
the crash destroyed about 20 feet of the wall and sent debris flying into nearby mobile homes
The driver sustained a minor hand injury but declined treatment from fire rescue personnel
Detectives said they found no evidence of impairment
ruling out alcohol or narcotics as factors
and police confirmed that the driver’s parents were also notified
Authorities said Florida Power & Light was also contacted to repair a damaged utility pole that was damaged in the crash
No other details about the incident were immediately released
Annaliese Garcia
Andrea Torres
– A detective held a grandmother who was crying and screaming after deputies found a family of six shot in Broward County
Leer en español
A gunman shot four children aged 2 to 11 and a 32-year-old mother before shooting himself on Wednesday night in Pembroke Park
and her 3 kids -- 2-year-olds Nova and Emery McKenzie and 11-year-old Xion Solomon -- died after the domestic shooting at about 7:30 p.m.
near Hallandale Beach Boulevard and Lake Shore Drive
Pembroke Park Police Department officers and Broward Sheriff’s Office deputies were at the Sundrift building
a rental community with over 30 apartments
was among the family’s neighbors who reported hearing a series of gunshots coming from the fourth floor before the police sirens
“A man tried to kill all his family,” Aquino said
According to Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue Battalion Chief Michael Kane
fire rescue personnel took a man and a pediatric patient to hospitals in Hollywood
She was at the Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital and he was at the Memorial Regional Hospital
The gunman who survived is the biological father of the two slain toddlers
Pembroke Park police officers turned over the investigation to BSO homicide detectives
who were still working on the case on Thursday afternoon
Detectives asked anyone with information about the case to call Broward County Crime Stoppers at 954-493-8477 to remain anonymous
Local 10 News Assignment Desk Editor Wilson Louis and Reporter Terrell Forney contributed to this report
PART 1: Tragic story repeating itself in Broward is a sign that more needs to be done, domestic violence survivor says
PART 2: Domestic violence cases have risen significantly in Florida since COVID pandemic
Saira Anwer joined the Local 10 News team in July 2018
Saira is two-time Emmy-nominated reporter and comes to South Florida from Madison
where she was working as a reporter and anchor
Jeff Weinsier
PEMBROKE PARK, Fla. – In a report released Thursday, Broward County’s watchdog agency concluded that Pembroke Park Commissioner Geoffrey Jacobs
engaged in “misconduct” when he “unlawfully” spent more than $10,000 in taxpayer money on a yacht charter for town officials and employees
His attorney is blasting the report as “petty and stupid.”
has had a controversial tenure on the dais in the small town of about 6,000 people
serving as both a commissioner and its mayor
stems from the use of a yacht during the town’s annual holiday party on Dec
A news release from the Broward Office of the Inspector General states that its investigators determined that Jacobs first put a nonrefundable $3,950 deposit on the town credit card to charter the Sun Dream yacht for three hours for a total of $10,575
as only the Town Manager or his or her designee could legally contract on behalf of the Town
and the Town Manager had not delegated that authority to Mayor Jacobs,” the OIG report states “Mayor Jacobs also committed misconduct when he failed to ensure that the Town Commission itself selected a vendor from among written proposals from at least three (3) different sources
as required by the Town’s Procurement Code.”
would later play a role in the “improper” purchase by authorizing a $6,625 wire transfer to pay the rest of the bill
purchases over $10,000 are supposed to involve the town commission and town manager
making the charter bill roughly $440 per person
“It is not the prerogative of any local government official or staff to knowingly use taxpayer funds to make a purchase that does not fully comply with the law,” the report states
“Each individual who has the power to expend public money must exercise that power with due care.”
responding to a preliminary version of the report
told the OIG’s office that while its report “admittedly revealed a number of procedural deficiencies related to the procurement of the Town’s 2022 annual holiday party
there was no evidence or indication that any Town commission member or Town employee
sought to enrich themselves or others as a result of that procurement.”
the Town has taken significant action to strengthen its procurement procedures and to better ensure compliance with all applicable local
“While some of this effort was initiated as a result of OIG findings and recommendations
the undersigned Acting Town Manager and the Town Attorney’s Office have also made independent recommendations to Town Commission related to best procurement practices and other steps to safeguard the expenditure of public funds.”
He concluded by saying that town leaders remain “committed to continuing to improve its procurement procedures and to ensure that the Town is an accountable steward of the public’s trust.”
said the report was politically-motivated and said his client committed no wrongdoing
“This is just another frivolous and petty attack on Commissioner Jacobs by his political opponents
This was a Holiday party held with City approval and for the benefit of the City
There has never been any suggestion that Commissioner Jacobs used one penny of City money for his personal benefit,” Pizzi said
Jacobs followed any procedures that were in place at the time and obtained the appropriate approvals
He did nothing other than arrange for a Holiday party for the sole benefit of the City
He is now being attacked for assisting in a Christmas party that he got no benefit from
Mayor Ashira Mohammed told Local 10 News in an email
“The findings of the OIG investigation are unfortunately unsurprising
Commissioner Jacobs abusing his office at taxpayer expense is nothing new
It’s long past time for him to resign and allow our town to move forward from his pattern of abusive and illegal behavior.”
Local 10 News has also contacted other town commissioners seeking comment
At least one big bird in South Florida will survive Thanksgiving
On Wednesday, Pembroke Park in Broward County will pardon a turkey — named Tom, apparently — in an afternoon ceremony at Town Hall
The Town Council is inviting visitors and residents to attend
see Tom off and perhaps raise a gobble-let in the fowl’s honor
“Thanksgiving is a great day to be an American
we thought it would be fitting to ensure Tom the Turkey gets to enjoy the day as much as the rest of us,” Vice Mayor Erik Morrissette said
“We’re thankful to have the chance to bring our town together and give Tom a much-deserved reprieve from being on the table.”
a small municipality of fewer than 6,300 residents
comes two days after President Joe Biden granted clemency to two of Tom’s distant cousins
On Monday, Biden pardoned turkeys Peach and Blossom at the White House in front of a crowd of some 2,500 people
Biden noted during the ceremony that it would be his last time speaking as President during the Thanksgiving season
He said serving as President has “been the honor of my life” before speaking to the nation broadly
“May we use this moment to take time from our busy lives and focus on what matters most: our families,” he said
The fact that we are blessed to live in America
the greatest country on Earth — and that’s not hyperbole
Tom the Turkey’s pardon will take place at 12:15 p.m
Jesse Scheckner has covered South Florida with a focus on Miami-Dade County since 2012. His work has been recognized by the Hearst Foundation, Society of Professional Journalists, Florida Society of News Editors, Florida MMA Awards and Miami New Times. Email him at [email protected] and follow him on Twitter @JesseScheckner
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– A Miami man working for a beauty product supply company based in Pembroke Park is facing two felony charges after police said he stole more than $1 million in goods in an Amazon resale scheme
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Authorities said Duran worked for Cortex USA
which operates out of a warehouse at 2575 SW 32nd Ave.
and sold its merchandise on Amazon under his own banner
Police said a company representative tipped off Cortex USA management about “Miami Vibes” selling products at cut-rate prices and internal investigations tied the illicit business to Duran
re-labeled them under the “Miami Vibes” brand and used Cortex USA’s FedEx shipping account to send the ill-gotten goods to customers directly from the company’s warehouse
Authorities said the company has lost $1,132,268 in inventory because of the scheme since 2022
including losses of more than $667,000 in 2024 alone
The arrest report states that two other employees
are suspected in the scheme: One was fired on July 9 and the other quit the same day
Police said in an interview at their headquarters on Thursday
Duran admitted to the thefts and “disclosed that a portion of the stolen funds had been sent to his family in Nicaragua,” expressing “remorse for his actions” and said he’d be willing to pay back a portion of the losses
Officers arrested Duran on charges of grand theft and scheme to defraud
Duran was being held in the Broward Main Jail on a $75,000 bond
he’ll have to prove the funds came from a legitimate source and surrender his passport
“The Pembroke Park Police Department will continue to work closely with the business and the Broward County State Attorney’s Office to ensure justice is served,” authorities said in a statement
FILE - A tragic shooting on Wednesday evening in Pembroke Park left a mother and her three sons dead
while her daughter and the alleged shooter are hospitalized
(CBS12) — A tragic shooting on Wednesday evening in Pembroke Park left a mother and her three sons dead
The Broward Sheriff's Office (BSO) said Julie Cruz
were found dead at their home on West Hallandale Beach Boulevard
was also shot and is currently receiving medical treatment
The sheriff's office said its Homicide Unit is leading the investigation
Authorities responded to the scene around 7:36 p.m
deputies discovered six people — including four children — had been shot inside the home
was found with what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound
He is currently in custody at a local hospital
Investigators revealed that Cruz and McKenzie shared two sons
The investigation into the circumstances surrounding this deadly shooting is ongoing
– An investigation is ongoing after a home in Pembroke Park was shot up
Residents at Pembroke Villas are pointing the finger at their neighbor
who is a former Miami police officer who they said has become a menace in their community
McGill, 60, has been arrested before. While an officer in Miami, he was accused of stalking the mother of his two children in 2015.
Neighbors told Local 10 News’ Roy Ramos that McGill suffers from mental health issues
They said he’s been firing what they believe is a BB gun at their homes and this isn’t the first time
Video captured the sounds of what one resident believes is the BB gun being fired at his apartment
The first shot was just before midnight on Sunday
with additional shots ringing out minutes later
Neighbors can be seen walking outside to see where the shots are coming from
“We got on the floor and called the police.”
The victim showed Ramos a shattered sliding glass door
a broken window where a relative was sleeping and his bedroom window
right next to the bed where he was sleeping with his wife
“I found this on the floor and I think that this is the pellet that he was shooting,” the victim said
Pembroke Park police responded to McGill’s home and arrested him
marbles and metal ball bearings in his pockets
McGill has been charged with criminal mischief
but neighbors said this is not the first time he’s done this
“This is the third time he breaks the windows and he used
McGill has allegedly shot out the windows of two other apartments
He’s believed to be the person seen on surveillance video shining bright lights at their units in the middle of the night
“Please stop what you started.” He is even accused of throwing bottles of urine at their homes
“He used to be a police officer so he knows how to use guns
You never know if he has another gun in his house.”
Police said they never found a BB gun or a gun of any sort
While McGill has found himself on the other side of the law again
his neighbors are hopeful he will remain behind bars
worried he may hurt someone if he’s released
He’s currently being held in jail without bond
Roy Ramos joined the Local 10 News team in 2018
Roy is a South Florida native who grew up in Florida City
He attended Christopher Columbus High School
Homestead Senior High School and graduated from St
An apartment building where a fatal shooting occurred is shown on Thursday
(Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP)
(AP) — A 34-year-old man fatally shot a woman and three young children and injured another child before attempting to kill himself inside their apartment
The woman and three of her children were pronounced dead on Wednesday night inside their apartment in Pembroke Park
Broward Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Claudinne Caro said Thursday
McKenzie was in critical condition on Thursday and the child remained in serious condition
Caro said Cruz was the mother of all four children
and McKenzie is the father of the 2-year-olds
The two older children have a different father
McKenzie was placed in custody at the hospital
Sheriff’s detectives are investigating what led to the shooting
“He didn’t seem upset or anything,” Rainey told the newspaper
“The mayor has consistently has threatening behavior towards me on the dais
yelling at me,” he’s heard saying in a recording
Former Pembroke Park police Chief Ra Shana Dabney-Donovan stopped the meeting and Mohammed allowed the chief to publicly search her
That led to the Broward State Attorney’s Office charging Jacobs
prosecutors said their ability to prove the elements of the crime would have “fallen short.”
Commissioner Jacobs’ call to BSO’s dispatch services indicated that he could not confirm whether
Mayor Mohammed actually possessed a firearm,” the memo states
Prosecutors said while an investigation revealed “no evidence existed that could reasonably explain Commissioner Jacobs’ fear that Mayor Mohammed possessed a firearm and that
she was going to harm Commissioner Jacobs with it,” they “did not have sufficient evidence to conclusively
demonstrate that Commissioner Jacobs knew that his reporting was false.”
The memo states that Acting Town Attorney Jacob Horowitz testified that after Jacobs advised he was concerned for his personal safety
Horowitz told him to “call law enforcement.”
Commissioner Jacobs would have reasonably argued that he was merely following the advice of legal counsel when he called BSO dispatch services,” the memo states
said Mohammed and Dabney-Donovan “put on a show for the media and fabricated and manipulated the suggestion he said the mayor had a firearm at (town) hall.”
But Jacobs was the one who called police and made the allegations and the state attorney’s office
Pizzi said Jacobs now plans to sue the town “for malicious prosecution
for orchestrating this false arrest and false criminal allegations.”
Jacobs, whose own alleged conduct has been the subject of litigation
“Is any of this your fault?” Local 10 News reporter Jeff Weinsier asked
Jacobs has been “a plague on Pembroke Park since the moment he took office” with a “well-documented” string of “abuses of power.”
“He falsely accused me of having a gun at a commission meeting and is now planning to sue me for I don’t even know what
“His abusive behavior and outlandish accusations continue to cost the taxpayers of Pembroke Park both financially and operationally as he drives good people away from working for our town.”
She said Jacobs is attacking rather than taking responsibility
“It’s long past time for him to resign or be removed from office,” Mohammed said
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The police are investigating the tragic event
By CiberCuba Editorial Team
A woman and three minors died Wednesday night in a domestic shooting that took place at an apartment complex in Pembroke Park
A 10-year-old girl and the alleged assailant
The shooting occurred just before 8:00 p.m. in the 3100 block of West Hallandale Beach Boulevard, as confirmed by the chief of the Broward Sheriff's rescue battalion
and two young children deceased inside the apartment
The injured— a 10-year-old girl and a man— were taken to nearby medical centers. The girl was transported to Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital, where she is reported to be in critical condition, while the man was admitted to HCA Florida Aventura Hospital, according to CBS Miami
According to reports from media outlets such as Local 10 News and CBS Miami
the man allegedly shot at the woman and the four minors before attempting to take his own life
Neighbors in the area reported hearing between eight and fifteen gunshots coming from an apartment on the fourth floor. “I went outside and heard gunshots right in front of me, I ran over and that’s when all the police arrived,” recounted Marco, a resident of the area, in statements gathered by Univisión Miami in their preliminary report
said that her son heard the gunshots and that when he went outside
everything was already cordoned off with a strong presence of patrols and ambulances
this area is quiet; you never see so much police," she commented
The Homicide Unit of the Broward Sheriff's Office continues to lead the investigation
the identities of the victims have not been disclosed
nor has the relationship between all those involved been officially confirmed
a woman and three minors died in a domestic incident within an apartment complex
a 10-year-old girl and the alleged assailant were injured and taken to nearby hospitals
The 10-year-old girl injured in the shooting is in critical condition at Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital
while the suspected attacker is hospitalized at HCA Florida Aventura Hospital
The neighbors of Pembroke Park expressed their surprise and concern over the shooting
The Homicide Unit of the Broward Sheriff’s Office is investigating the case to determine the causes and circumstances of the incident
The shooting in Pembroke Park is not an isolated incident
as other cases of domestic violence have been reported in South Florida
These include attacks with firearms and incendiary objects
highlighting the need to address and prevent domestic violence
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